Daniel Ricciardo has opened up on his life after Formula 1 and how he has finally found a fulfilling balance in his new life.
The 36-year-old officially ended his career after a 14-year stint in F1. Many believed that Ricciardo had the makings of a future F1 Champion, potentially becoming the first Aussie to claim that title since Alan Jones.
However, after departing Red Bull Racing at the end of 2018, Ricciardo was unable to continually compete with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in his Renault and McLaren machinery.
Whilst Riccardo was able to impress fans and rivals, it wasn’t enough to keep his F1 dream alive. Inevitably, Ricciardo left the F1 grid following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Since then, the Australian has tried to navigate a transition away from the sport he spent a decade and a half in.
Ricciardo emphasised that it was a difficult transition at first, and he struggled to adjust to the slower pace of life. However, he highlighted that the partnership between himself and Ford, who are now supplying Red Bull’s powertrains, keeps him involved in the Motorsports world. Most importantly, without the pressure he faced throughout his career.
“What is next for me is really just enjoying this pace of life I’m living now,” Ricciardo said in a Q&A with GQ Sports.
“It took me a little while to adjust from retirement, but now I’m finding, let’s say, my pace and my happiness.
With Ford and being the ambassador for them, it’s a way to still stay in racing, in motorsport, in the automotive world. But without the pressure that I put on myself for many years.”
Ricciardo’s Life after Formula 1
Despite his life looking completely different, Ricciardo is content with his current balance.
“Life has changed a lot, but it’s been good,” he added.
Since officially leaving the grid, Daniel Ricciardo has made appearances at several races and events for the sport. Namely, he was most recently at Red Bull and Racing Bull’s 2026 launch event in Detroit.
Whilst stepping away from the sport that he loved was a difficult decision, Ricciardo holds no regrets. With the Australian stating that his freed-up calendar has allowed him to do things he typically couldn’t
“I’ve had a lot of time to myself, time to grow a beard, doing things that I didn’t really get a chance to do when I was racing and travelling so much, and that’s a lot of time with family and friends.
“So [I’ve] enjoyed it a lot, getting to put a lot of miles on my Raptor.”
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